Resources for GPs
Caring for people in distress
“When people come to us in pain, they often can’t identify the source of that pain. The goal of the assessment should be to identify what is the story behind that presentation”
-Professor Jon Jureidini, Critical & Ethical Mental Health Group, University of Adelaide
The way we choose our words matters when we talk to or about people.
Good language choices help people feel understood and valued, impacting on how people make use of your support and advice and enhance your relationship.
Anthony Smith and Dr Melissa Raven have developed a brief guide to using more constructive non-clinical language when talking about distress.
This guide is available for free through some of the courses we currently have available or for purchase through Wakefield Press.
The benefits of Watchful Waiting when managing patients with mental health issues:
- Less dependency on medications: Watchful waiting potentially allows patients to avoid using medications, which can help reduce inappropriate prescribing, mitigating side effects and dependence risks.
- Patient empowerment: Patients are encouraged to take an active role in monitoring their symptoms and recovery, fostering self-awareness and personal agency.
- Tailored approaches: Provides flexibility to adjust treatment plans as symptoms evolve, allowing for more personalised holistic care.
- Natural Recovery: In many cases, mild or moderate conditions can improve on their own over time, and watchful waiting allows this natural process to unfold without having to use substantial interventions.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Reduces immediate treatment costs associated with therapy or medication, making it a more affordable option for patients.
- Reduces stigma: By adopting a more gradual approach, patients may feel less stigmatised compared to receiving immediate, more intense treatments.
- Increased engagement: Patients may feel more comfortable with a less invasive approach, this in turn can increase their overall engagement in their care.
- Improves long-term outcomes: Allows for a more informed treatment plan, based on the patient’s response over time, potentially leading to better long-term mental health outcomes
Addressing social needs, sometimes referred to as social prescribing, is a holistic approach to healthcare that connects people to non-clinical services and community resources to address social, emotional, and practical needs that impact wellbeing. These can include support groups, community services and exercise programs that help address a variety of social factors affecting mental and physical health.
For GPs, social prescriptions offer a holistic approach to patient care, empowering individuals to take control of their health by addressing the root causes of their conditions. This can lead to improved patient outcomes, reduced reliance on medications, and better long-term health management.
After identifying a specific area where a patient may be facing difficulties, they can also be referred to targeted healthcare or community services. Social prescribing encompasses referrals to services that assist with debt resolution, financial counselling, housing, and education or employment planning and support.
Social prescribing includes referrals to services that address debt resolution, financial literacy support, housing, education and work planning/ support.
Our partners in social prescribing
South Australian Financial Counsellors Association (SAFCA)
SAFCA connects people with financial counsellors* who can help provide people with information and support, and advocate for them when they find themselves in financial difficulty.
Financial counselling services are free, independent and confidential.
GPs and other professionals may also wish to refer people to SAFCA. They recommend phoning a local financial counselling service with the client present so you can provide relevant information to the service.
The impact of Financial Counselling on client wellbeing
Referring to Financial Counselling in SA
Telephone: 1800 007 007
Website: www.safca.org.au
*Not to be confused with financial planners
Community Connections Program
The Community Connections Program supports people living in South Australia aged 18-64 years to enhance their wellbeing by strengthening their connections to community, support networks and vital services.
It’s a short-term program (up to 12 weeks) for people who are not eligible for mainstream programs such as the NDIS and My Aged Care.
The program is available across SA, with local partners helping participants find the support they need to achieve their goals. Brochures are available here.
Information on how to access the program is available here including an interactive map.
The Community Connections Program is funded by the Department of Human Services.
To learn more about the general program email: CommunityConnections@sa.gov.au
Community Connections
The Community Connections program offers short-term support to South Australians, with several regional partners.
It is available to all South Australians aged 18-64 years old, who are not already receiving federal support from programs like the NDIS or My Aged Care.
A guide to creating referrals is available here.
This program was co-designed by the Centre for Social Impact and Caring Futures Institute (Flinders University), led by Dr Candice Oster.
Community Connections Program Brochure
To learn more about their program:
- Website: https://dhs.sa.gov.au/how-we-help/community-connections
- Phone: 08 8562 2688
- Email: communityconnections@lutherancare.org.au
This list is only a rough guide and will vary depending on your location. We cannot formally endorse these services as the quality and acceptability of each service may vary for different groups of people.
- Ask Izzy is an online search engine/ mobile app that connects people to services around Australia, including everyday goods (e.g. clothes, food vouchers), and domestic violence, legal, financial and advocacy services. The platform also has a training program called Ask Izzy Connect that may be of interest to people working with community referrals.
- A national directory of local community services and events.
- Family Relationships primarily contains resources for families experiencing difficulties, with a section on family and domestic violence.
- The DSS Grants Service Directory is a searchable directory of organisations providing service delivery through specific grants, but is a useful resource for finding local services.
- 1800RESPECT – National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support services. Call 1800 737 732, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Chat online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Onebridge is a health and social service provider that provides care to communities with diverse needs.
- LaKay Connect, under OneBridge, is ‘an accessible community-driven initiative designed to combat loneliness and isolation through creative engagement’. Their program offers free arts activities that foster connection, promote well-being, and support mental health.
- Peer support/ lived experience communities or programs may also be useful depending on the young person’s or their family’s circumstances.
Helping you rest, recover, and feel better every day
Sleep plays a vital role in our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Poor sleep can affect mood, memory, focus, immunity, and overall quality of life. It can also worsen or be caused by conditions such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and sleep disorders.
The good news? There are simple strategies and supports that can help you sleep better—many of which are available right here in South Australia.
Support, reassurance, and recovery
Panic attacks can feel overwhelming and frightening—but they are not dangerous, and they are more common than you might think. With the right understanding and support, most people can learn to manage and move through them.
Whether you’re supporting someone who has had a panic attack or you’ve experienced one yourself, this page offers reassurance, helpful explanations, and practical next steps—including support options here in South Australia.
Understanding and Supporting Grief
Grief is a deeply personal, often long-lasting emotional experience. It’s a natural response to loss and something most of us will encounter at different points in life. For some, grief may ease with time. For others, it may stay present in different ways over the years.
Grief can affect every part of life—our relationships, mental health, work, and even how we see ourselves. But it can also challenge, reaffirm, or shift our beliefs and help us grow in unexpected ways.
If you or someone you care for is navigating grief, know that you’re not alone—and there is support available in South Australia.
Navigating family conflict with care, understanding, and connection
Family conflict is a normal part of life—but when disagreements become ongoing or emotionally distressing, they can affect everyone’s wellbeing.
Whether you’re a parent, carer, young person, or support worker, approaching family challenges with empathy and curiosity can help rebuild trust, strengthen communication, and create space for healing.
This page offers practical guidance and local supports to help you or someone you care for through times of family tension or relationship strain.
You are not alone. Support is here when you’re ready.
Domestic and family violence can take many forms—not just physical. It often includes behaviours that are controlling, threatening, isolating, or emotionally harmful. It can happen in any kind of relationship, including between partners, parents and children, carers and older people, or other family members.
Violence in the home is never your fault. If you or someone you know feels unsafe, isolated, or controlled, support is available.